Rigid baby carriers

The nurse pannier is typical of the Cantabrian mountain regions which are steep, as it allows the reconciliation of work and childcare more safely. It is similar to the panniers used by women and men in the region for carrying all sorts of goods.

The pannier acts like a kind of cot, it is lined and has a small mattress, traditionally filled with maize leaves for the child’s comfort. They fell out of use in the fifties and sixties.

The extreme climate of the region meant it was necessary to replace the light, summer lining of the previous photo with a warmer one for winter, which covered the child completely.

 

Nurse pannier with winter lining. Valle del Pas. Cantabria (España) © Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares- UAM